Bill > S0485

This bill amends South Carolina law to allow adopted individuals who are 70 years of age or older to obtain copies of their original birth certificates and adoption records. Currently, birth certificates for adopted individuals are typically sealed, preventing access to original documents. The proposed change would enable these older adoptees to request their original birth certificate and any adoption-related evidence from the State Registrar, regardless of when their adoption was finalized. This provision provides a pathway for older adopted individuals to potentially learn more about their birth origins and personal history, addressing longstanding concerns about restricted access to personal documents for those who were adopted. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving the Governor's approval, representing a significant change in how adoption records are handled for elderly adopted individuals in South Carolina.

Health and Social Services

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0485&session=126&summary=B